Allison Baker-Thiessen said she was told Thursday she’d be allowed to bring in the 11 volunteers she found willing to help mitigate flooding at Nutimik Lodge. By Friday morning, she had heard otherwise.
For Manitobans grappling with the impacts of swollen rivers and rising lakes many locked in a seemingly endless personal property fight against flooding there are more dark clouds on the horizon.
For Manitobans grappling with the impacts of swollen rivers and rising lakes many locked in a seemingly endless personal property fight against flooding there are more dark clouds on the horizon.
An incoming weather system is expected to bring another 20 to 40 millimetres of rain to much of southern and central Manitoba over five days, starting Friday night.
The provinces hydrologic forecast centre says some localized areas could receive even larger amounts, with some models calling for as much as 70 mm. In southeast Manitoba, there is a possibility of thunderstorms that could bring a total of more than 100 mm of rain in the coming days.
It is unwelcome news to those already engaged in floodwater fights.
“The problem we have as cottagers, residents, campers, lodge owners, is the fact that they haven’t even tried to sandbag it. They haven’t tried to build up the road. They haven’t done anything to allow access so that we can keep maintaining our lodge and our cabins.” – Allison Baker–Thiessen
In Whiteshell Provincial Park, the owners of a lodge say, after agreeing to allow volunteers to stay at their resort to help keep flooding at bay, the province has reversed that decision, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Allison Baker-Thiessen, who runs Nutimik Lodge with her husband, Harry Thiessen, said she was told Thursday shed be allowed to bring in the 11 volunteers she found willing to help mitigate flooding at the lodge. By Friday morning, she had heard otherwise.
The province decided it would no longer allow them to bring in volunteers to stay at the resort, Baker-Thiessen said, because there was a low spot by the park entrance thats covered in water.
Its not a dangerous road to travel, she said, and the couple use the road regularly.
The problem we have as cottagers, residents, campers, lodge owners, is the fact that they havent even tried to sandbag it. They havent tried to build up the road. They havent done anything to allow access so that we can keep maintaining our lodge and our cabins, Baker-Thiessen said.
“When they told me I couldn’t have volunteers, I fell to my knees again. It’s like, why are you doing this to us?” – Allison Baker–Thiessen
However, a spokesperson from the province said the lodge was told only staff could stay on site, asking the business provide it a list of such staff for future wellness checks and the lodge went beyond that request.
Nutimik Lodge expanded their call for volunteers without provincial support, and have been reminded of the rules around the evacuation order, the spokesperson said in an email.
While it remains dangerous to have volunteers in the evacuation zone, there is a significant amount of provincial support in place through things like dikes and Tiger Dams (flood mitigation tubes).
Baker-Thiessen and her family took over the business five months ago. They sold everything to make that dream happen, she said.
Now, she fears they wont even get the chance to fight to save their business from rising waters.
When they told me I couldnt have volunteers, I fell to my knees again, she said. Its like, why are you doing this to us? Let us fight. Its not unsafe where we are, where people would drown. Thats not the case at all. Weve just got to protect our perimeter, and well be OK.
Flood of 2022A truck drives through Red River flood water covering parts of Hwy 220 south, May 30, 2022. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk (left), Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson (right), and Sarah Thiele (centre), deputy minister, Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure talk to reporters along Provincial Road 222 near Lakeside Road where it has been mostly washed out just north of Gimli, MB, as part of a provincial tour of flooded areas, June 2, 2022. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk, Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson, and Sarah Thiele, deputy minister, Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure along with other government employees walk along Provincial Road 222 near Lakeside Road where it has been mostly washed out just north of Gimli, MB, as part of a provincial tour of flooded areas, June 02, 2022. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)Provincial Road 222 near Lakeside Road where it has been mostly washed out just north of Gimli, MB, June 2, 2022. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)Provincial Road 222 near Lakeside Road where it has been mostly washed out just north of Gimli, MB, June 2, 2022. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk, Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson, and Sarah Thiele, deputy minister, Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure along with other government employees walk along Provincial Road 222 near Lakeside Road where it has been mostly washed out just north of Gimli, MB, as part of a provincial tour of flooded areas, June 2, 2022. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)
220602 - Thursday, June 2, 2022Floodwater surrounds a pedestrian bridge which crosses Pickett Creek near Nutimik Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park. (Brynn Kaplen photo)Flood water from the swollen Assiniboine River covers low lying farmland along Highway 250 north of Alexander, June 1, 2022. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)Rows of sandbags protect the Otter Lake resort from floodwaters on May 21. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) - Daniel CrumpCabin owner Michael Chontske (left) and his friend Tracy Lysak are doing what they can to protect Chontske’s cabin and property as the water on Eleanor Lake continues to rise Saturday, May 21. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) - Daniel CrumpDan Thomas and Colin Spark inspect a ring of sandbags they helped put up to hold back the waters of Eleanor Lake on May 21. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) - People help each other load sandbags into their vehicles in the Whiteshell area May 21. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) - A cabin on Eleanor Lake off of Provincial Road 307 is surrounded by flood waters on May 21. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) - Volunteers build a super sandbag dike to protect homes in Minnedosa May 20. The flood situation in the town improved slightly Friday with a small drop in water levels. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun) - Bill Crooks carries plastic used in making a super sandbag dike to protect homes in Minnedosa May 20. The flood situation in the town improved slightly Friday with a small drop in water levels. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun) - Volunteers fill super sandbags to make a dike to protect homes in Minnedosa on May 20. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun) - Premier Heather Stefanson (left) and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Doyle Piwniuk speak to the media about the floodfight in Minnedosa at the Minnedosa Dam May 19. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun) - Floodwater from the swollen Little Saskatchewan River covers low area’s between the Minnedosa Lake dam and the town of Minnedosa May 16. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun) - Floodwater from the swollen Little Saskatchewan River covers low area’s between the Minnedosa Lake dam and the town of Minnedosa May 16. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun) - Floodwater from the swollen Little Saskatchewan River covers low areas between the Minnedosa Lake dam and the town of Minnedosa May 16. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun) - Floodwater from the swollen Little Saskatchewan River covers low area’s between the Minnedosa Lake dam and the town of Minnedosa May 16. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun) - Netley Creek and The Red River enter Lake Winnipeg just north of Winnipeg. (John Woods / Pool / Canadian Press) - A home on Peguis First Nation with a Tiger Dam around it. Residents of the community were evacuated because of the Fisher River flooding. The river levels have dropped considerably this week. (John Woods / Pool / Canadian Press) - St. Mary’s Road, which runs between Winnipeg and St. Adolphe, Man., is closed due to Red River flooding south of Winnipeg, Sunday. (John Woods / Pool / Canadian Press) - Premier Heather Stefanson (centre) and opposition leader Wab Kinew, (left) tour Manitoba’s flood area Sunday. (John Woods / Pool / Canadian Press) - Premier Heather Stefanson and opposition leader Wab Kinew head to a press conference after a helicopter tour of Manitoba’s flood area. (John Woods / The Canadian Press) - St. Mary’s Road, which runs between Winnipeg and St. Adolphe, Man., is closed due to Red River flooding Sunday. (John Woods / Pool / Canadian Press) - The Z Dike, built south of Winnipeg during the 1997 flood, protects against the Red River flooding Sunday. (John Woods / Canadian Press) - A car navigates a narrow stretch of road on Provincial Road 200 south of Winnipeg on May 14. Due to water and debris, the road narrows to only a shoulder before disappearing under the water completely. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) - Provincial Road 200 south of Winnipeg is completely submerged on May 14. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) - Provincial Road 200 south of Winnipeg is washed out on May 14. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) - School buses parked in a lot surrounded on three sides by flood waters along Provincail Road 200 south of Winnipeg on May 14. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) - Bertha Therrien outside her home in Peguis on May 10. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) - MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Bertha Therrien outside her home in Peguis First Nation. The flood water was up to the top of the sandbags a couple days ago. - An old farm truck sits partially submerged in Peguis on May 10. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) - A distant home protected by a tiger dam isolated by water in Peguis on May 10. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) - SUPPLIED
Tiger Dams are set up around houses in Fisher River Cree Nation in the Interlake, where the Fisher River spilled its banks. - SUPPLIED
An aerial photograph of the flooding at Fisher River Cree Nation. - Water from heavy rain and snow melt floods over a grid road in the RM of Clanwilliam-Erickson on Monday, May 9. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun) - Joan Hackie photo
Joan and Russ Hackie are using a boat on Thursday, May 5, to get to and from their home, which is surrounded by floodwater, on Marchand Road in the Municipality of Ritchot, just south of Winnipeg. - A truck navigates flood waters in Peguis First Nation on Wednesday, May 4. (David Lipnowski / The Canadian Press) - Flooding on Peguis First Nation on May 4. (David Lipnowski / The Canadian Press) - The Peguis First Nation Search and Rescue vehicle heads out to help on May 4. (David Lipnowski / The Canadian Press) - Flooding on Peguis First Nation on May 4. (David Lipnowski / The Canadian Press) - CPVolunteers prepare sandbags in Peguis on May 4. (David Lipnowski / The Canadian Press) - The Arborg area is dealing with flooding caused by recent rainfall and the Icelandic River spilling its banks. (RCMP)
- This photo taken by a drone shows tractors pumping floodwater over Highway 68 about a kilometre west of Arborg on May 4. (North-East Interlake Emergency Measures Board) - Nick Frechette wades through flood waters on his dad’s property north of St. Adolphe on May 4. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press) - The Red River has run over its banks on May 3, cutting off access to Red River Drive about five kilometres south of the Turnbull Drive and Pembina Highway intersection (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) - Red River Drive is submerged by the Red River on May 3. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) - Crews work on May 3 on collecting clay for a dike that will be built across Red River Drive to help protect homeowners. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) - Crews work on building a dike across Red River Drive on May 3 to help protect homeowners. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) - On the outskirts of Morris on May 3. (Morris RCMP) - Outside of Morris on May 3. (Morris RCMP) - Jennifer Lim poses in her yard, which is partially flooded by an overflowing retention pond, in Winnipeg on May 3. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) - Backyards partially flooded by an overflowing retention pond in Winnipeg on May 3. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) - SUPPLIED
Tiger Dams set up around houses in Fisher River Cree Nation in the Interlake, where the Fisher River spilled its banks. - High water levels in Elie on May 2 are threatening some homes. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) - The high school in Elie is surrounded by water on May 2. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) - Sandbags are made in preparation for flooding at the RM of Cartier facility in Elie on May 2. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) - Sandbags are made in preparation for flooding at the RM of Cartier facility in Elie on May 2. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) - A homeowner has put down some sandbags on May 2 in response to high water in Elie. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) - A truck crosses a high La Salle River in Elie on May 2. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) - The swollen Icelandic River in Arborg on May 2. (Doug Anderson photo)
- Flooding in the Peguis First Nation is shown in a handout photo taken with a drone on MAy 1. (Albert Stevenson / The Canadian Press) - Flooding in the Peguis First Nation is shown in a handout photo taken with a drone on May 1. (Albert Stevenson / The Canadian Press) - David Sutherland, Ron Sutherland and brother-in-law Garry Willis work on putting sandbags in front of Ron’s house, close to Sutherland Road and Highway 8, on April 26. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) - In Altona, crews erected a Tiger Dam — large tubes filled with water to act as a flood barrier — in a vulnerable area of the town on April 29. (Supplied) - PR 200, north of St. Adolfe, with water from the Red River spilling across the roadway slowing traffic down to one lane. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press) - A 55+ complex in Selkirk’s Creekside subdivision flooded after water from a nearby creek started rising in the area on April 23. (Supplied) - A 55+ complex in Selkirk’s Creekside subdivision flooded after water from a nearby creek started rising in the area on April 23. (Supplied) - Provincial employees showed up in the dozens to build and reinforce dikes around flood-hit Nutimik Lodge, located at Nutimik Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (Allison Baker-Thiessen photo) -
Whiteshell Provincial Park is under a mandatory evacuation order and an expanded area in the northern side of the park is under closure.
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The evacuation order has affected about 600 cottages, six businesses and 500 campsites.
The forecast precipitation is expected to affect the Whiteshell area and the Winnipeg River Basin upstream in Ontario, the province said Friday afternoon in a news release: Very high flows and water levels are being experienced on the lakes and rivers in this area, and the expected precipitation will cause them to rise further.
Several communities throughout the province continue to be impacted by high water levels, the province said.
Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization continues to work with all local authorities and emergency management partners to provide guidance and support for response and recovery activities. At this time, 38 states of local emergency have been declared, it said. EMO continues to work with Indigenous Services Canada in supporting ISC-led response measures with First Nation communities.
The forecast precipitation is also expected to affect the upper Assiniboine River Basin in Saskatchewan and increase inflows into the Shellmouth Dam.
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